Author: Marketing Marketing

“Engine Connect is the brains of our vending machines !” says D8

Posted on by Marketing Marketing

For over 20 years, D8 and Coges have worked hand in hand to push the boundaries of vending payment systems. What started as a simple integration of key-based payments alongside cash has grown into something much more sophisticated. Thanks to Coges’ solutions and their Engine Connect IoT device, D8 now boasts a fully integrated payment and telemetry system.

Facing challenges before telemetry

Can you walk us through some of the main challenges you had with managing your vending machines before telemetry? Were there specific pain points around monitoring, inventory, or maintenance?

“Managing our vending machines was tough before telemetry,” shares Bertrand Korwin, Back Office Manager. “The pandemic hit us hard, and with raw material costs rising, it became obvious we needed to be more agile. Telemetry was a game-changer. It let us roll out pricing campaigns quickly and efficiently, without all the logistical headaches or needing technicians on-site. Now, we can tweak prices remotely for each machine with just a click.”

In just two years, we’ve upgraded over half our fleet with telemetry and connected everything to our ERP. This gives us real-time visibility into sales, helping us better understand what our customers want. Plus, we can spot technical issues before they become problems, monitoring Engine performance remotely, which means we can support our technicians better, cut down on intervention times, and avoid unnecessary trips.

The Nebular management program has been a lifesaver too—its simplicity and clarity make it easy for new team members to get up to speed quickly while helping us stay on top of everything across our network of vending machines.

Innovation and efficiency through collaboration

How has working with Coges helped in terms of innovation and efficiency?

“Working with Coges has completely changed how we think about monitoring and maintaining our machines,” says Benjamin Pradolin, Head of Payment Solutions at D8. “We can now keep an eye on each system remotely, which is a huge step forward for our payment services. With over-the-air updates, we can roll out the latest Coges software across our entire fleet in just a few hours. No more manual updates, which saves us so much time.”

Being able to manage everything from one place—whether it’s issuing free credits, blacklisting, or setting operating hours—has made us much more efficient. “A few years ago, this would’ve sounded like science fiction. Today, it’s our everyday reality, and it’s turned our support team into a proactive, strategic asset,” Pradolin adds with a smile.

Making a difference with telemetry

How has Coges’ telemetry made a difference for D8? Can you highlight any specific areas?

“Our partnership with Coges has been a journey. We’ve watched their products evolve from simple key readers to sophisticated payment and telemetry solutions,” says Bertrand Korwin. “They’ve supported us every step of the way, helping us transition smoothly from key-based payments to apps, credit cards, and now telemetry. We couldn’t have made that leap without their solid technical support.”

Unexpected benefits and synergies

What benefits have come from this collaboration? Any surprises along the way?

“Over time, the Engine has become more than just a payment system—it’s the brain of our vending machines. It helps us meet customer expectations, manage inventory smartly, anticipate stock shortages, and keep an eye on the technical health of our machines,” Korwin explains.

This technology also boosts our internal operations. Our sales team can adapt strategies to match market trends, and our technical team stays on top of system performance and issues. With real-time inventory management, our operations team can launch super-targeted pricing campaigns that respond to customer needs in the moment.

“The potential is huge,” Pradolin adds. “We’re looking forward to integrating Coges cloud platform even more closely with our ERP system. Imagine a world where operators only head out when Coges platform sends an alert, or a technician is automatically dispatched when a fault is detected. That’s the future we’re aiming for.”

Looking ahead, our partnership with Coges is opening up exciting possibilities. We’re gearing up for even more automation to keep things running smoothly and make sure our customers always have the best experience. With Coges by our side, we’re ready to tackle whatever comes next.

Coges and Vendon at Vendex North

Posted on by Marketing Marketing

We are thrilled to announce our participation at Vendex North, taking place on November 6th in Leeds (UK)! There we will showcase our innovative telemetry solutions for the vending industry and for coffee machines, as well as our Nebular Pay contactless credit card readers, perfect for vending.

Chris Pyrah, Sales Area Manager for Coges and Vendon in the UK, comments: “The IoT solutions we offer transform the way vending operators operate, allowing them to have complete and real-time control, optimise costs and improve the end-customer experience. Thanks to remote machine monitoring, optimised inventory management and intelligent route planning, these solutions allow operators to streamline business processes, ensuring maximum performance for both vending machines and table-top coffee machines.”

Come and visit us at stand 130 and at the Coffetek stand: our team will be at your disposal to show you all the news and answer all your questions.

Don’t miss it! See you in Leeds!

Turning downtime into uptime: How Gedac Vending transformed with IoT connectivity from Coges

Posted on by Marketing Marketing

Meet Gedac Vending, a long-standing vending operator in Italy. Like many in the business, they faced challenges in managing their widely spread vending machine fleet. To improve their operations and keep customers happy, they needed a smart, comprehensive solution—and that’s where Coges, a leader in payment systems and IoT technology for vending and coffee business, stepped in. 

The Challenge: overcoming operational roadblocks 

Before working with Coges, Gedac Vending faced several key issues: 

  • Breakdowns without alerts: Vending machines in public areas often malfunctioned without warning, leading to unreported downtime—and lost sales. 
  • Restocking inefficiencies: Their restocking strategy relied on outdated data, leading to inconsistent stock levels and less-than-optimal machine performance. 
  • Refund frustrations: Without real-time data, processing refunds was slow and inaccurate, negatively affecting customer satisfaction and revenue. 

The Solution: real-time IoT connectivity with Coges 

Enter Coges’ Engine Connect devices—a game-changer for Gedac Vending fleet. By seamlessly integrating these devices into their vending machines, Coges enabled real-time monitoring and management through their cloud platform. And since Gedac Vending was already a long-term customer of Coges, the whole integration process was quick, smooth, and required minimal downtime. 

The Results: boosting efficiency and revenue 

Here’s how things changed for Gedac Vending: 

  • Less downtime, more sales: With real-time alerts, Gedac Vending operations team could fix machines before their breakdowns turned into lost sales—leading to increased revenue. 
  • Optimized restocking: Real-time inventory tracking allowed Gedac Vending to fine-tune their restocking process, ensuring machines were always well-stocked while reducing waste—whether that’s fuel, time, or product. 
  • Streamlined transactions: With real-time sales data, Gedac Vending was able to speed up and improve the accuracy of refunds, making customers happier and operations smoother. 
  • Remote updates: Now, Gedac Vending IT team can update payment systems and firmware remotely, saving time and resources while ensuring their machines are always up to date. 
  • Seamless software integration: Coges’ IoT system integrates effortlessly with Gedac Vending existing software, Vega Digisoft, making it easier for business managers to access data and oversee operations. 
  • Sales insights: Gedac Vending sales team now gets detailed insights into sales, from the time of purchase to the payment method used (whether it’s MyKey, cash, credit card, or mobile app). This helps them tailor their approach to each location, maximizing performance. 

 

A Trusted Partnership 

Throughout their collaboration, Coges provided top-notch customer service, ensuring Gedac Vending could fully leverage their telemetry system without missing a beat. The result? Significant operational improvements and a measurable boost in revenue. 

Conclusion 

For any vending operator, minimizing downtime and maximizing efficiency are crucial for success. By adopting Coges’ IoT solution, Gedac Vending not only solved their operational challenges but also gained significant improvements in performance and revenue. The real-time data, seamless connectivity, and remote management tools are game changers for anyone managing a fleet of vending machines. If you’re in the vending business and looking to stay competitive, solutions like this are no longer optional—they’re essential. 

  

Ready to revolutionize your operations? Contact Coges today: marketing@coges.eu 

Revolutionizing Vending Machine Management with Connectivity

Posted on by Marketing Marketing

How Coges Helped Broderick’s Increase Sales and Efficiency

Broderick’s, an award-winning luxury coffee and refreshments company, operates 5,000 vending machines across the UK, supported by boutique coffee bars and a dedicated team of 160 employees. Despite its growth and success, the Manchester-based company faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, with reduced consumption, a shift away from cash transactions, and logistical difficulties in managing vending machines scattered nationwide.

The Challenge: Adapting to New Realities in Vending

As the pandemic forced changes across the industry, Broderick’s identified the need to modernize its operations. They were eager to adopt cashless payment solutions and find ways to remotely manage their vending machines to reduce downtime and improve operational efficiency.

Simon Davies, Business Intelligence Manager at Broderick’s, explained:
“In 2019, Broderick’s were looking to start their journey into going cashless. With Covid hitting the company hard, we were looking to evolve our business into unknown territory for our industry where our products, locations and contracts are run by data.“

The Solution: Coges Nebular Connectivity and Pay4Vend

Broderick’s had already partnered with Coges, thanks to the Pay4Vend smartphone payment system. However, the challenges brought on by the pandemic required a more comprehensive solution. Coges introduced the Coges Engine system integrated with the Nebular connectivity platform. This advanced technology allowed Broderick’s to not only enable cashless payments but also manage vending machines remotely through real-time, bidirectional data transmission.

This digital transformation involved revising some of Broderick’s traditional operational procedures. Working closely with Coges’ sales and customer service teams, Broderick’s successfully transitioned to the new system.

Key Benefits of the Nebular Connectivity Platform:

  • Real-time Data Transmission: Enabled real-time monitoring of vending machines, reducing downtime and improving efficiency.
  • Cashless Payments: Increased the adoption of cashless payments via Pay4Vend, providing a seamless customer experience.
  • Remote Management: Allowed for remote diagnostics and error resolution, decreasing the need for on-site visits.

Simon Davies recalled:
“After reviewing several competitors, we decided on Coges and with Nebular. The main selling points were the live data and the use of Pay4Vend. This was a very complex time for us, many archaic operating techniques were heavily shaken and new procedures were created. We quickly started to invest in more and more Engines as we saw the benefit of going cashless. Simultaneously, we worked on using the data to make basic reporting tools. The Coges team have helped us every step of the way and over the next few years we increased our engine capacity and today over 70% of our operated business runs through these Engines with this amount growing.”

The Impact: Increased Sales, Reduced Costs, and Improved Customer Satisfaction

The introduction of Nebular connectivity has transformed Broderick’s vending machine operations. By leveraging real-time data, the company has optimized engineer visits and refilling schedules, significantly reducing errors and improving machine uptime. Additionally, sales have increased, and customer satisfaction has grown due to faster response times to issues and enhanced reliability.

Broderick’s now has 1,800 vending machines connected via Nebular, allowing for precise stock management and pre-kitting, leading to an estimated savings of £100,000 to £200,000—equivalent to 1-2% of total costs.

Furthermore, Broderick’s continues to monitor machine sales down to the minute, addressing signal issues and ensuring optimal performance.

Simon highlighted the real-time benefits:
“We are able to monitor the sales to within the minute to find out if there are any signal issues and how badly it affected us. We have live alarms and signal data which help us identify buildings which may need signal boosters and which don’t need them.”

Pay4Vend: Enhancing Customer Loyalty and Engagement

The Pay4Vend app has also played a pivotal role in boosting sales and enhancing customer engagement. With over 70,000 downloads, the app has allowed Broderick’s to run loyalty programs and special offers, leading to a 5% increase in sales.

“We have regular prize giving and special offers with our 70,000 users and regularly have dialogue with them regarding different queries they may have. Our customers love that we are able to keep their workforce/staff and students happy,” Simon said.

Looking Ahead: Future Collaboration and Innovation

The partnership between Coges and Broderick’s continues to evolve, with plans to integrate marketing and advertising capabilities through Nebular, further optimizing customer engagement and driving sales. Broderick’s looks forward to ongoing collaboration and exploring new opportunities to enhance vending machine management and customer satisfaction.

Contact Us to Learn More

Are you ready to improve your vending management efficiency with cashless payment systems and real-time data? Contact us at marketing@coges.eu to learn how the Coges Nebular connectivity platform can help transform your business.

Meet Alessio: From Master’s Degree to Firmware Leadership at Coges

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Alessio joined Coges in 2023, fresh from completing his master’s degree in electronic engineering. From the moment he started working with us and dove deeper into firmware product design, it became clear that he not only possesses excellent technical skills but also has the ability to organize, lead, inspire, and manage. His can-do attitude and consistently positive approach to his work have played a significant role in accelerating our firmware development. After just six months, Alessio is now our FW Product Owner, effectively managing our firmware sprints—two-week development cycles that culminate in an integration test. He coordinates with our hardware, software, testing departments, and the PMO to ensure continuous innovation and progress in our products. Alessio has also collaborated with the Industrialization department on important upgrades and automation in our production process.

What motivated you to join Coges right after completing your master’s degree in Electronic Engineering, and how did your academic background prepare you for your role here?
It was partly by chance: I had just decided not to pursue a Ph.D., Coges was a great opportunity not too far from home, and I decided to take on this new adventure in a field I didn’t know. My academic background helped me develop a method to face challenges, avoiding panic at the first sign of difficulty. However, I’m very grateful for the more technical and practical skills I learned in high school at the Chilesotti Technical Institute, which introduced me to and ignited my passion for the fascinating world of electronics.

You quickly took on a leadership role (i.e., your role as FW product owner/backlog owner): What do you think helped you develop these skills so quickly?
For sure the great team I found at Coges: they were very helpful in guiding me through the study of the products and tools used. Then, of course, a bit of luck and company needs!

How has your mindset or approach to work changed since you started here?
One phrase that really struck me from Emilio de la Hita (my Team Leader) when I first arrived was: “Before developing firmware and creating something, you need to know your teammates well.” I think this is really meaningful in understanding the company’s focus on the people before the work itself, and I believe this has influenced me a lot.

What is one thing you are proud to have achieved at Coges?
I haven’t achieved anything particularly significant compared to what’s already been accomplished! I’m very happy to have worked with Fabio to simplify programming in production and to have experimented with some interesting functionalities for the Elysium sniffer.

What do you like most about your job at Coges?
I enjoy analysing problems and thinking through solutions, but I’m also thrilled when I have to look for new technologies to use and experiment with: electronics is an immense world, and there are truly incredible functionalities!

What’s something about you that we wouldn’t find on your resume?
I always like to point out that, even though it may not be directly related to my profession, a significant contribution to my personal growth and character came from my experiences with the parish and Catholic Action: I think they are excellent life training grounds, and many of my traits have been shaped by these experiences! In my free time (although lately, I don’t have much), I enjoy digging holes with the excavator or driving the tractor!

If you could have a superpower, which one would you choose and why?
If I could have a superpower, I would choose telepathy. It would be incredibly useful for better understanding the needs of clients and colleagues, facilitating communication and collaboration at work. It could also help me grasp technical problems more quickly by “reading” the necessary information from the minds of experts. Naturally, I would use this power responsibly and respectfully regarding others’ privacy. But my favourite superpower right now is ChatGPT, which answers these types of questions for me!

With Alessio’s leadership, Coges continues to develop new solutions in payment technologies, ensuring that innovation is always at the forefront.

Evex 2024 in Cannes

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Exciting News in the World of Vending! Join us from 16 to 18 October in the iconic Cannes, France, for the highly anticipated EVEX 2024. This year’s event is extra special as it’s in collaboration with LE FORUM and NAVSA.

We, at Coges, are thrilled to be showcasing alongside Azkoyen and Vendon at Stand 22! Come explore the latest innovations in coffee technology and automatic distribution, presented by the Azkoyen Group.

Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to experience the future of vending—see you in Cannes!

Coges launches the new QPAYPos credit card reader

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Coges, a leader in payment system innovation, is pleased to announce the launch of its latest product, QPAYPos. The QPAYPos credit card reader is a highly customizable, easy to configure and simple to use device that allows you to enable cashless payment at any point of sale.

The main strength of QPAYPos, in addition to the speed of data transmission, is the attention paid to the user experience and the purchasing interface. The QPAYPos reader was designed with the user in mind: setup is simple and intuitive, allowing you to get up and running quickly. The user-friendly interface guarantees an uncomplicated user experience for both operators and customers, also allowing the PIN to be entered directly on the reader’s touch screen.

“With QPAYPos, unattended stores can now offer a shopping experience comparable to that of a retail store.” Observes Daniele Ioriatti, sales manager of Coges “This innovative credit card reader transforms vending machines, making them more modern and attractive for customers. Its field of application is not limited to the world of vending: from HoReCa to parking, from EV charging stations to car washes, QPAYPos has the functionality and reliability necessary for any unattended point of sale.”

QPAYPos is compatible with all credit cards, including smartphone payments. This ensures that users can use the payment method they prefer, improving accessibility and convenience and avoiding lost sales in both busy and closed locations. To ensure maximum security and durability, QPAYPos is also available in a vandal-proof version, ideal for public environments.

The device not only manages credit card transactions, but in vending it is also useful for recharging MyKey cashless media, making QPAYPos a complete solution for all payment needs: it can be installed independently or connected to a Coges payment system to make the most of its potential, integrating it with the management of closed-circuit cashless media and cash. Furthermore, in its various versions, QPAYPos supports both contactless and chip and magnetic stripe cards, offering unparalleled versatility and ensuring compatibility with a wide range of payment cards.

QPAYPos will be available for purchase starting in October. For further information, questions or to order QPAYPos, contact our sales network or visit our website www.coges.eu.

We are excited to introduce QPAYPos to the market and we are sure that it will represent a new step forward towards an increasingly innovative and connected payment technology, revolutionizing the way customers interact with vending machines and all unattended points of sale.

The new MyKey designed for those who love the environment

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Coges presents the new version of the MyKey cashless key, made with 100% recycled plastic for a lower environmental impact

The world of vending has been dealing with the issues of environmental sustainability and waste reduction for many years, seeking solutions that can improve the impact of our industry on the environment and meet the increasingly aware needs of end users. To meet these needs, Coges is proud to offer the new MyKey made from completely recycled plastics.

“Coges MyKey is one of the most loved payment media in automatic distribution due to its immediacy and practicality of use, so much so that it has become an indispensable support for coffee breaks in Italy and in other Countries.” Underlines Daniele Ioriatti, sales manager of Coges. “The new version of MyKey, previewed at Venditalia 2024 and available in an exclusive black color, contributes to reducing the demand for virgin plastic and creating a circular economy, in which materials are reused and recycled.”

The new plastic has the same characteristics as the other versions of MyKey both from a functional point of view and in terms of resistance to daily wear and durability. With the new 100% RECYCLED MYKEY, Operators will be able to demonstrate their concrete commitment to a more sustainable future, distinguishing themselves from the competition and attracting customers who are increasingly sensitive to the environment.

We are confident that the 100% RECYCLED MYKEY represents a significant contribution towards more environmentally friendly vending. Contact our sales network or visit our website to find out how to purchase 100% RECYCLED MYKEY and start making a difference in your business!

Summer holidays

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We inform you that COGES S.p.A. will be closed during summer holidays from Monday 5th up to Monday 19th  August included.

For any technical issue you can send an email to technical.support@coges.eu or call:

  • Marta Leonardi at the number +39 3481514520 from the day 5th to the 7th
  • Davide Rossato at the number +39 3921319115 from the day 8 to the 13th
  • Michele Gardellin at the number +39 3484696082 from the day 14 to the 19th

Coges and Vendon Set to Showcase New Solutions at Venditalia 2024

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Coges, a payment systems leader for vending machines, alongside Vendon, a top provider of telemetry and payment solutions for the coffee and vending industry, are thrilled to announce their participation in Venditalia 2024 marking this exhibition as a significant milestone in their synergy consolidating their expertise under one roof.

Exciting news awaits at Venditalia as both companies are set to unveil an integrated IoT platform tailored for data-driven success and business optimization specifically targeting cost-saving initiatives through remote management of the machine and payment devices. Coges will additionally present its latest product “Elysium,” a system that connects payment systems to vending machine displays, along with a focus on open-loop cashless systems. In turn, Vendon will present new advanced Route Planning functionalities for generating highly efficient routes seamlessly leveraging historical data, real-time inventory analytics, and location prioritization, ensuring optimal logistics management.

Discover all the news of Venditalia 2024 in our brochure!

The joint presence of Coges and Vendon at Venditalia will be a turning point for the partnership between the companies and a new milestone in their ever-growing synergy. In addition to showcasing their newest solutions, both companies will focus on the huge advantage of using Vendon telemetry solutions and Coges cashless payment products in combination. This collaboration aims to provide vending businesses with complete payment and telemetry solutions, enabling data-driven decisions, cost reduction, and utilization of a comprehensive loyalty platform to enhance customer engagement.

Daniele Ioriatti, Sales Manager of Coges, shares his enthusiasm for the collaboration: “I highly value the partnership between Coges and Vendon. It’s very important to have this synergy and mutual benefit in order to create valuable products for operators. With Coges payment systems and Vendon IoT and telemetry solutions complementing each other, we can bring a higher added value to our customers in the vending industry and adapt to their needs even better.”

Janis Jukna, Head of Sales at Vendon, also shares the importance of this partnership: “Coges and Vendon are global players and recognized as points of reference in their respective sectors. Our collaboration allows us to offer the most complete payment, loyalty, and telemetry solutions for the world of vending. Our solutions are compatible with most vending machine brands and models in the market, and we remain open to integration with third-party services to provide the best possible experience for our clients.”

An integrated IoT platform – Vendon Cloud – is initially designed to help operators make informed decisions that are based on data, allows to eliminate machine downtime and to reduce costs by offering various features, including real-time monitoring, remote management, technical event alerts, route planning, stock control, transaction monitoring, preventative maintenance, etc.

Moreover, the IoT platform includes an advanced loyalty solution known as QuickPik. QuickPik consists of a Loyalty Platform and Payment App, seamlessly integrating with employee loyalty programs and mobile payment applications. This innovative solution empowers businesses to reward customers with bonuses and facilitate swift, secure transactions.

With a shared commitment to excellence and innovation, Coges and Vendon are aiming to expand their presence in the vending industry. As global leaders in the vending payment system and telemetry field, planning to expand their reach and drive growth in the Italian market as well as the entire European market.

Venditalia is the top international vending trade show, taking place in Fiera Milano, Rho, from May 15th to 18th, 2024. The event is a global stage that will allow all operators in the industry to connect, learn, and grow in the vending sector on an international level. Visit Coges and Vendon at Venditalia 2024 at stand F10 – G09 (Hall 8) to get some firsthand insights into the newest telemetry and payment solutions for vending businesses.

Do you need more info?